Murderer puts ankle shackles in front of detention: police are looking for photos

Created: 12/22/2021 Updated: 12/22/2021, 5:42 PM

The finally convicted murderer hides his face in the district court.

© Bernd Thissen / dpa / archive image

A legally convicted murderer took off his ankle bracelets in Münster and fled shortly before he would have had to begin his custody.

The police published photos of the man as part of their search on Wednesday afternoon and asked for clues.

The "Bild" newspaper had previously reported on the case.

Münster - The man was sentenced to life imprisonment in January around 27 years after the violent death of then 16-year-old Nicole Schalla.

Because the judiciary saw no risk of escape and the verdict was not yet final, the German remained free after the guilty verdict and was given an ankle cuff.

As a spokesman for the public prosecutor said, the judgment became final a few days ago after a decision by the Federal Court of Justice.

The public prosecutor's office was informed on Tuesday - whereupon they wanted to have the detention carried out.

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A police spokesman confirmed research by the “Bild” newspaper, according to which the man had taken off his ankle cuffs on Tuesday evening at 8:10 p.m. in Münster and left his cell phone behind.

In the search notice it says: "The population is asked to help in the search for the fugitive."

Lawyer Arabella Pooth, who had represented Nicole Schalla's parents as a joint plaintiff, told the dpa on Wednesday: "It was clear that the man would not face his sentence." That he was initially at large after the trial, was legally possible - but wrong from their point of view.

The fact that the man has now disappeared is "a disaster" for the victim's parents and cannot be understood.

dpa